Born in Worcestershire, Englan… Read Full Bio ↴Clifford Thomas Ward (b 1944, d 2001)
Born in Worcestershire, England, Clifford T Ward started his recording career with various bands in the early 60s but commercial success proved elusive.
After a brief spell as a school teacher he reappeared as a solo artist, achieving a top ten single with 'Gaye' from the album "Home Thoughts" which is considered by many to be his best work but it had only limited commercial success.
Despite this the title track "Home Thoughts from Abroad" has stood the test of time and continues to get regular airplay. In 2002 BBC Radio 2 listeners placed it at Number 4 in their all time top 10 list of British songs.
Ward contracted multiple sclerosis in 1986 and passed away in 2001
water
Clifford T Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I've seen you alright
I can face forever
I'm sick of the light
And the lyin' and the cheatin'
I'm a fool and I'm bleedin'
Let me bleed.
I've been certain enough
But I don't need adversity
I've had more than enough
You will not laugh and watch me cryin'
You will not spit in my face again
I don't need you when I'm dyin'
You will not cut me down.
There's no answer to my prayer
And still I know you're there
How can I forget?
How can you forget?
I can face eternity
Maybe I'll get some peace
Send me all uncertainty
I'm ending this lease
There's a thinking you call wishful
There's a God you call mine
There's a suffering you don't wish for
And it's all water . . . .
The lyrics of Clifford T. Ward's song "Water" express a sense of resignation, acceptance, and peace in the face of adversity and uncertainty. The singer seems to have reached a breaking point where he can no longer endure the lying, cheating, and mistreatment that he has suffered. He declares that he can face eternity now that he has seen someone he cares about, and that he no longer needs adversity because he has had enough of it. He refuses to be looked down upon, laughed at, or cut down anymore.
Despite the pain, the singer acknowledges the existence of a God or a higher power that he still believes in, and he finds comfort in the thought that this power is there, even if there is no answer to his prayer. The water metaphor suggests a sense of fluidity and acceptance, as if the singer has come to terms with the fact that life is constantly changing and moving forward, and he is ready to let go of his lease on it. Ultimately, the lyrics of "Water" convey a sense of hope and transcendence, as the singer overcomes his pain and finds peace in acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't mind eternity
The singer is comfortable with spending infinite time with the person they have seen
Now I've seen you alright
The singer now understands and knows the person well
I can face forever
The singer is ready to endure anything as long as they are with the person
I'm sick of the light
The artist is tired of the insincerity in life
And the lyin' and the cheatin'
The artist is fed up with dishonesty and deceit
I'm a fool and I'm bleedin'
The singer has been hurt and feels foolish for staying in the relationship
Let me bleed.
The singer is willing to endure the pain of the relationship
I don't mind uncertainty
The artist is okay with not knowing what the future holds
I've been certain enough
The artist has experienced a lot of certainty and is ready for something different
But I don't need adversity
The artist does not want to face more challenges or difficulties
I've had more than enough
The singer has overcome many obstacles and does not want to face any more
You will not laugh and watch me cryin'
The artist does not want to be belittled or humiliated when emotional
You will not spit in my face again
The singer will not tolerate being treated disrespectfully
I don't need you when I'm dyin'
The singer does not want the person to be around when they are suffering
You will not cut me down.
The singer will not allow the person to bring them down or cause them pain
There's no answer to my prayer
The artist's prayers have not been answered
And still I know you're there
Despite the lack of answer, the artist still believes the person exists
How can I forget?
The singer cannot forget the person
How can you forget?
The singer questions whether the person could forget about them
I can face eternity
The artist feels they can endure anything
Maybe I'll get some peace
The artist hopes they will find calm in the future
Send me all uncertainty
The artist wants to embrace whatever comes their way
I'm ending this lease
The singer is ready to move on from the relationship
There's a thinking you call wishful
The artist acknowledges that their dreams may seem unrealistic
There's a God you call mine
The singer believes in a higher power that is important to them
There's a suffering you don't wish for
The singer understands that some pain is inevitable and unavoidable
And it's all water . . . .
The pain and challenges the singer has faced are in the past and do not matter anymore
Contributed by Penelope B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ameCaline07
This song has marked me for life. along with some other of his songs. /Gaye, Up In the World, The Traveller, This Was Our Love..just to mention so very few .....
I loved Clifford T. Ward so dearly.
His songs are simple, but has got this special x-factor sound.
You will always recognize mr. Ward whenever his song is played.
And sad to say, it is not much. I got all his songs + some unfinished...on old LP*s and burned-down cd's. You will never hear his songs in the radio..or hear his name mentioned on tv (in memory of..), in spite of his overload of music ...his precious gift to the world.
When I need to 'come home', I just put on songs from this dear guy.
whom I'll love till the end of all time ♥♥♥
"Let me bleed"....I hear him.
@railwaystationmaster
Written after CTW had been diagnosed with MS this gut wrenching song is both bleak and beautiful with its heartbreaking honesty . RIP
@Neilzill
i heard Gaye when i was about, 10 years old i'm 57 now, its stuck with me forever. it's only recently i discovered he passed away due to complications of the MS. Three years ago i was diagnosed with the same disease, not something i thought i'd never share with CTW, then here we are , lifes amazing, and so was CTW, RIP
@christianlandaeta4096
Can only send you positive thoughts of strength and endurance. Music will keep us all healing and facing each one's day.
@rodallott
Beautiful but sad !